A little "book talk"!

I guess you may have noticed the Books to the Sky icon on my sidebar linking you to that website. If you are a book lover as I am, I really think you will enjoy this new site from Juli. She gives some great reviews on books that she has read. This is the same Juli who has The Great Bookmark Exchange which I challenged you all to join also. (remember, fellow book lovers?)
I don't really know how I got interested in books...not books on tape so much (I can't seem to keep my concentration on those for any length of time). I just remember enjoying walking to the library when I was young (when you could walk that far safely), walking down the basement steps (it was under some offices in town) and just loving the smell of it. All those books! (especially the Nancy Drews....which I still collect as you know) I still love to walk into a book store, particularly the ones with the coffee shops and just take a deep breath....it's aromatherapy for me. There is this certain fascination about books I can't explain. I mean I don't remember my mom reading when I was young nor did she read to me. Nor did my dad. They both read the newspapers and such, but that was about it. I found out later in life that my mom read alot before she had kids...makes sense...with four kids farely close in age...who has time to read? Once everyone was gone, and my dad passed away, she read like crazy. I, in turn, slowed down quite a bit, taking care of my own son and reading alot to him. How I wish she were around now, so I could have my very own reading swap partner...she read pretty much the same things I did and would try anything. I particularly remember one birthday when she turned maybe 70, we went to the used book store and got about 50 used Harlequins and romances for her. Ya know, she wasn't that excited when my brother bought her a new TV. She loved them. She said she loved to read them cause it took her to a whole other world. And when you think about it....it does. I mean really, a good writer will make you jump into the book......the characters will become people you really know. What I'm trying to figure out is....are love of books something you are just born with or something taught to you? In my case, I was born with it. I really never saw anyone else reading in my family. I did read to my son quite a bit...actually from the moment I brought him home from the hospital, whether he understood it or not. (Dr. Suess, of course) There were plenty of books available for him....but it never really caught on. Guess he wasn't born with the love of books as I was.
I also enjoy seeing what others are reading. When I'm on vacation, I'm always trying to look at the covers of the books of people reading at the beach. I find it fascinating to see what other people like. I even used to volunteer in the local library....just because. You would think I would have become a librarian.
Anyway, not to become long winded here on books, but I do enjoy them. Now I don't read as fast as I would like to....probably never finished a book in one sitting like some people do....I tend to get a little sleepy at some point. I have so many many books I would love to read tho....I'll try anything once. This is why the paperback swap website is so much fun too. I can trade what I've finished and get new at no cost. It amazes me how many people belong to that too.....it is rare that I don't find a book...whether it be fiction or non-fiction, kids books, crafts, etc... Every kind you can think of posted by people everywhere to trade for the cost of postage. They have now added a new site which is a CD swap. Sweetie Man posted 10 CD's so far and we've just sent one out that was requested. I haven't looked into this one yet since I'm more a reader than a music person. But check it out if you have CD's that you really don't listen to anymore or have downloaded on you I-pods.
Oh, and one more thing about books....there are alot of online libraries also that are pretty good. I've read a classic or two on them.. the whole book, chapter by chapter. http://www.literature.org/ And there is also a site called Book Crossings in which you randomly leave a book you have read somewhere (hospital, store, restaurant...etc) hoping someone picks it up...then you sorta track it. You can also see where in your town someone has dropped a book off...you'd be surprised! This could be anywhere in the world that's listed...but I did manage to find one that was left at a donut shop in town.
Well, that's about it for today. Hope you enjoyed my literacy blog today. And check out some of those sites I mentioned....you might find something you like! So, till tomorrow, amigos.......READ-R-DONE!!!